The Reform Government Surveillance coalition, made up of 10 major tech companies, is joining with civil society groups and trade associations to urge legislators to introduce greater transparency and accountability around surveillance programs.

The group has addressed a letter [PDF] to President Obama, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and NSA director Admiral Michael Rogers and others, calling for reform ahead of the expiration date of Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act in May. It sanctions the bulk collection of communications metadata.